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The List Goes On

SRS gives you some Survivor Series news!

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/tdWpIc4u9vk

Select Portions: List Goes On, AEW and MLW news

- For those asking, Dax Harwood did in fact push to creative for the finish of the FTR vs. Big Bill and Ricky Starks match to happen the way it was. Cash Wheeler is nursing injured ribs, but we've not been told if he'll miss any time

- Saraya is not injured, for the numerous inquiries about that. 

- Tajiri took to X/Twitter after the CMLL x NJPW x MLW story broke to apologize to MLW as a friend and former booker for All Japan (2023-10-11 17:58:01 +0000 UTC View Post

Tuesday Night War SCOOPS THREAD

Tuesday night war SCOOPS THREAD! This will be updated as the shows go on.

- AEW had set Swerve Strickland vs. Bryan Danielson as the opener of Dynamite by Monday.

- Many NXT regulars in the crowd were not able to attend due to the demand for NXT tickets tonight and were on standby. WWE sources said it was the most demand they've seen for a mid-week NXT show at the WWE PC.

- To reiterate, Velveteen Dream has not been at the WWE Performance Center.

- We're told AEW knew ...

Text Q&A about the CM Punk story

To battle some misinformation, I wanted to do a text based Q&A regarding CM Punk and our story. Ask away

To clear some things up -- 

- This information procured was unprompted. In these situations, the sources (higher ups in WWE) are not in the business of working media -- that is not productive for either side. Quite literally, it has never been a thing we've experienced. They'd simply not reach out or respond instead. 

- We were outright told that ...

WWE Sources: CM Punk And WWE Are Not In Talks

Another day, more CM Punk news.

WWE Fastlane came and went without Triple H being asked about CM Punk at the post-show presser, but we're told that as far as people have heard from him, CM Punk is not planned for a WWE return.

Fightful spoke with those high up in WWE that any reports of CM Punk signing with WWE are completely false, and additionally as of October 10, the claim internally is that WWE is not in conversations with CM Punk about a comeback. There were several in the c...

Velveteen Dream Update

Twitter account BWE claimed that Velveteen Dream has been going through therapy and progressing well, and had visited the WWE Performance Center, and while he's not signed he was there last night. Thus far, we have not been able to confirm any of those details, outside of the fact that he's not signed.

When speaking to a higher up in WWE, they stated that they have no interest in re-signing Patrick Clark/Velveteen Dream at this time, and something very shocking would have to take place ...

Alex & Kate's SOUR GRAPS: Raw 10/9 | Addition By Subtraction

So apparently Vince is out.  AGAIN.

Let's file that one under "I'll believe it when I see it."
But have we already 'seen' it?

Gargano is back on TV, teaming with Ciampa, in a feud with a newly serious and intimidating Imperium. Bronson Reed is getting an IC Title match against Gunther next week. Seth Rollins, the ultimate 'Triple H Guy', got the title kept on him for some reason. Hell, Tegan Nox got a title match against Becky Lynch tonight. A LONG ONE. And I'm pretty sur...

Fightful Weekender (10/9): GCW, JCW, REVOLVER, WARRIOR, IWC, AIW, ACTION GLORY PRO, NXT LEVEL UP, MLW PREDICTIONS, ROH SPOILERS

STEPHEN JENSEN is back with a new edition of the WEEKENDER!

Topics:

- GCW: "The Art Of War Games" + "Fight Club 2023" results

- JCW: "Pumpkin Spiced" results

- REVOLVER: "Women's Grand Prix" results

- MLW: "Slaughterhouse" predictions

- WARRIOR: "Warrior Wrestling 31" results

- IWC: "Super Indy 22" results

- AIW: "Boogey Nights" results

- ACTION: "Under The Lights" results

- GLORY PRO: "Ascend" (Ep. 5) results

- NXT Level Up (1...

WWE Raw plans

Fightful has learned the following plans for WWE Raw, which are subject to change.

- Seth Rollins promo

- Viking Rules: Kofi Kingston vs. Ivar

- Raquel Rodriguez vs. Nia Jax

- Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso promo (YEET)

- IC Title contenders: Ricochet vs. Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed

- Drew McIntyre vs. JD McDonagh

- NXT Title: Becky Lynch vs. Tegan Nox

- SPOILER MAIN EVENT

Backstage News

- Nikki Cross vs. Kiana James is set to ...

Update on AEW vs. NXT Tuesday

Fightful has learned a new wrinkle in the October 10 NXT vs. AEW battle

With both companies looking to load up both shows, and NXT going commercial free, we've also confirmed that AEW has secured a ten minute overrun for AEW Dynamite. 

Becky Lynch update

Becky Lynch is still healing, but as of 6 PM ET, her status is promising.

WWE sources indicated to Fightful that as of 6 PM, Lynch was scheduled to work her previously planned NXT Title match against Tegan Nox. The match had to be delayed from last week after Lynch sustained a laceration at NXT No Mercy.

If something changes, we'll post an appropriate update. 

Triple H, Vince McMahon, And The Latest On WWE Creative

Things have been different on WWE Raw and Smackdown, in case you haven't noticed. 

PWInsider reported what Fightful had mentioned on our WWE Raw post-show this past Monday -- that things had appeared a little different on the surface. They expanded, saying there's been a bit of a morale boost associated with a line of thinking that Triple H is largely directing creative again, not Vince McMahon.

We can confirm this is a significant, prevailing belief within the com...

Update on NXT team's contract status

Grizzled Young Vets aren’t quite free….yet.

Though it was recently reported that the former Dyad were already free agents, they aren’t technically free and clear just quite yet. Though they did appear to finish up with WWE, sources in the company said that the team’s contracts actually still expire in mid-October. The duo are expected to officially leave the company at that point.

Rip Fowler and Jagger Reid, also known as Zack Gibson and James Drake asked for their release...

Swerve Strickland talks Will Ospreay, Other Wills, AEW, Sami Callihan

After defeating ‘Hangman’ Adam Page at WrestleDream, AEW’s Swerve Strickland caught up with Grapsody’s Phil Lindsey and Righteous Reg for a Fightful exclusive interview. Here are some notes from their discussion.

Swerve told Fightful that everything at AEW has been amazing. He said there had been a lot of movement within the company in the past month or so.

Swerve told us that he’s seen the AEW fan base taking to what they are doing and taking to The Mogul Embassy. He me...

SRS Backstage Report Podcast 10/9: Punk, Uso, more

- CM Punk

- FTR

- WWE Fastlane

- Jey Uso

- MLW news

- DIY nixed reunion

- Mizuki

- WBD-AEW

- Julia Hart

- Sean Waltman, Alex Shelley, Swerve, Sami Callihan talk to Fightful

- NICK HOGAN!?

Smackdown, Dark Match Producers And News

Smackdown Producers:

- LA Knight Promo: Michael Hayes

- Charlotte & Asuka vs. Damage CTRL: Kenny Dykstra & Molly Holly

- Rey Mysterio vs. Bobby Lashley: Jason Jordan

- Dragon Lee vs. Austin Theory: Jamie Noble

- LA Knight vs. Jimmy Uso: Michael Hayes

Dark Match Producers

- Michin & Shotzi vs. Alba & Isla: Adam Pearce

- John Cena, Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, LA Knight vs. Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Solo...

Magazine Archives: In the Heat of Success: Looking Back on “WCW/nWo Revenge”

By Rob Sutter from FightfulMag.com issue 6

The fall of 1998 was a pivotal point in the professional wrestling world. The Monday Night Wars was in full effect, pitting Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation against the Time Warner-owned World Championship Wrestling. Wrestling fans had their favorite matches, stars, and of course, companies, which fueled this rivalry between promotions that much more. What intensified this grudge was the sheer litany of vid...

WWE Raw Star Doing Great In Merch Sales

Recently, we reported that Jey Uso was held in high regard within WWE, but he’s excelling in other areas as well.

Fightful Select was able to get eyes on some recent live event merchandise reports and confirm them with WWE sources. Among those included the rarity of an individual superstar in Cody Rhodes outselling generic WWE merchandise, but Uso performed well also.

On the WWE live events towards the end of September, we’re told that Jey Uso’s merchandise sold exceptionall...

Alex Shelley talks IMPACT, Jade Cargill, PT, NJPW, more

IMPACT Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion Alex Shelley was this upcoming week’s guest on Fightful’s Wrestling Perspective Podcast with Dennis Farrell and Lars Frederiksen. Here are the notes from the conversation. This interview will be available for streaming or download at 9:00 AM EST, Monday, October 9th.

Alex said it was in 2002 that there were few options for wrestlers to make a living. Shelley said WWE was it, and TNA was just coming up but was not fully established.

H...

Alex & Kate's SOUR GRAPS: WWE FastLane 2023 | WWE TollBooth

Alex is in Canada, and Peacock doesn't work in Canada, so he can't watch FastLane.
(Not that he would want to, even if he could.)

So Kate watched it for him, and will tell him all about it, so he can get mad about it. BUT, will she be telling him the truth? And will he be able to figure out the lies?

Did Charlotte win? (Of course she did.)

And after Charlotte won, was she confronted by Jade Cargill?
(Almost certainly.)

Did Cody become one half of the Undisputed...

FTR update

FTR are no longer tag team champions, which have many questioning the status of FTR.

Big Bill and Ricky Starks beat FTR in less than five minutes, with Dax Harwood taking all of the offense. Considering the nature of the match, and that CM Punk is gone from the company, there were many wondering what this means for FTR.

FTR are signed to AEW until roughly 2027, and we're told that things have been fine between them and AEW of late. Originally, FTR vs. Young Bucks had been discusse...

WWE Fastlane SCOOPS THREAD: Who is LWO's partner? Producers, Refs, Order, Times

Fightful Select has learned the following match order, producers and referees set for tonight's WWE Fastlane, SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Share your thoughts on the show below.

- Judgment Day vs. Jey Uso & Cody Rhodes: Producer: Jamie Noble  Ref: Jason Ayers

- LWO vs. Bobby Lashley & Street Profits: Producer: Jason Jordan Ref: Jessika Carr

- IYO Sky vs. Asuka vs. Charlotte: Producers: Kenny Dykstra & Petey Williams  Ref: Dan Engler

- John Cena &...

Name discussed as being added to Lashley's group

Bobby Lashley wrestled his first match in month on Smackdown, and there have been discussions about adding some reinforcements to his group.

This summer, Bobby Lashley added the Street Profits to his ranks, with Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins changing their personas and approach. Fightful Select learned they aren't the only talent that have been discussed for the faction, as Odyssey Jones was brought up recently in conversations about potentially joining. 

Jones hasn't wrestl...

SRS Q&A October 7: Jade, Copeland, NXT, More!

- Jade Cargill

- Liv Morgan

- Edge

- Wardlow

- Will Ospreay

- Adam Copeland

- CM Punk

- Mercedes Mone

- IMPACT surprises

- NXT

Mizuki talks Mercedes Mone, Yuka Sakazaki, and more

Ahead of TJPW's Wrestle Princess IV, Fightful's Scott Edwards had the chance to chat with one-half of the main event, Princess of Princess Champion Mizuki. Among the topics discussed were the graduation of her tag team partner Yuka Sakazaki, fighting Miyu Yamashita in the Wrestle Princess main event, and  Mercedes Moné being a fan of hers. 

When talking about Sakazaki, Mizuki noted that she was prepared for it. She's going to miss teaming with Yuka but knows to cherish every ...

Fightful Select WWE Fastlane Pre-Show

Rob & Maggie co-host the Fightful Select Pre-Show at 2 PM EST

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjiMrHmfvCc

SRS Q&A Questions

Ask away!

WWE Smackdown Plans

Fightful Select has learned the following plans for tonight's WWE Smackdown, which are subject to change. 

- LA Knight promo

- Charlotte & Asuka vs. Damage CTRL

- Rey Mysterio vs. Bobby Lashley

- Bloodline and Judgment Day backstage

- Dragon Lee vs. Austin Theory

- Alba and Isla vignette

- LWO backstage

- Rollins-Nakamura video

- Damian Priest backstage 

- SPOILER MAIN EVENT

Backstage News

- Michi...

Ask Grapsody! Phil & Righteous Reg! 10/6/23

Ask Grapsody! Phil & Righteous Reg! 

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7NrjuLkH8U

CM Punk: What talent & creative have been told in WWE, is he going?

CM Punk is the talk of the town once again, as virtually every outlet has reported what they've heard regarding he and WWE.

Roll call. We're here.

WWE feels confident that CM Punk would come to WWE.

CM Punk’s termination from AEW led to questions about his future, including the possibility of a return to WWE. We’ve learned of what some within WWE think. WWE higher ups fully believe that CM Punk would sign with the company if they had interest. In the past year, we’v...